Ribbons displaying students’ names are tied together to mark the start of a novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots at St. Rita School in Alexandria Sept. 14 in advance of the papal visit.

The students wrote their names on ribbons that were knotted
together to represent their intentions and displayed outside
their classrooms. Each child was invited to offer some
sacrifice in honor of the pope's visit.

In an address at St. Peter's Square in Rome Oct. 15, 2013,
Pope Francis spoke of his devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of
Knots: "Mary, whose 'yes' opened the door for God to undo the
knot of the ancient disobedience, is the Mother who patiently
and lovingly brings us to God, so that He can untangle the
knots of our soul by His fatherly mercy."